Overview

This important book addresses critical themes in the development of archaeology as a reflexive, self-critical discipline in the modern world. It explores the ethical, political and cultural tensions and responsibilities which need to be addressed by archaeologists when working within networks of global ecologies and communities, examining how authoritarian traditions can exacerbate the divide between expert and public knowledge. Moreover, it analyses how localized acts of archaeology relate to changing conceptions of risk, heritage, culture, identity, and conflict. Bringing insights from Alain Schnapp, Michael Shanks, Isabelle Stengers, Bruno Latour, Ulrich Beck, John Urry and others to cross-disciplinary discussions of these themes, Unquiet Pasts shows how archaeological discourse can contribute towards engaging and understanding current dilemmas. It also shows how archaeology, as a localized and responsibly exercised practice, can play a part in building our commonly shared and experienced world.

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9781138278479

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Reviews

'This fascinating and important collection demonstrates the creative possibilities of a reflexive, self-aware analysis of a learned practice. The dialectics of past and present, object and culture, and discoverer, audience and analyst, are all explored to great effect. If only the natural sciences could learn the lesson - how much better and safer the world would be!' Jerome Ravetz, Oxford University, UK

Author Information

Dr Stephanie Koerner, Art History and Archaeology, University of Manchester, UK and Ian Russell, Brown University, USA

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